Induced Menopause

Induced Menopause

“Induced menopause occurs when a medical treatment,
such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation,
removes or seriously damages both ovaries”.1

Umbrella

What may the Induced Menopause Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Chemically-Induced or Chemical Menopause
  • Early and Premature Menopause Due To Medical Treatment
  • Iatrogenic Menopause
  • Induced Menopause or Forced Menopause
  • Medical Menopause
  • Medically Induced Menopause
  • Surgical Menopause
  • Treatment-Induced Menopause

Terminology

What are some terms used to describe induced menopause?

DotS the definition of medically induced menopause may vary. In Medically Induced Menopause: Is Medically Induced Menopause the Same As Surgical Menopause? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) elaborate on:

“Medically induced menopause is a term used to describe menopause that doesn’t happen naturally.

Health professionals may use different terms to describe medically induced menopause. For example:

  • Medical menopause
  • Induced menopause
  • Forced menopause
  • Early or premature menopause due to medical treatment
  • Treatment-induced menopause – menopause caused by medicine
  • Chemically induced menopause – menopause caused by medicine
  • Surgical menopause – menopause caused by surgery
  • Iatrogenic menopause – menopause caused by medicine or surgery”.2

Induced Menopause

What is induced menopause?

DotS the definition of induced menopause may vary. In Premature Menopause: Induced Menopause the (United States) Menopause Society’s (formerly the North American Menopause Society) definition is:

“Induced menopause occurs when a medical treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation, removes or seriously damages both ovaries. The reason for the medical treatment may affect whether hormone therapy will be recommended.

  • Surgery: When both ovaries are surgically removed, menopause results. Cancer is a common reason for this surgery. Removing both ovaries may be done to treat ovarian cancer or to help prevent breast and ovarian cancer in women who are considered to be at high risk
  • Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a powerful drug therapy to treat various types of cancer. It may be used along with surgery, radiation therapy, or both
  • Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy particles or waves to damage cancer cells and reduce their size or keep them from growing”.3

Medically Induced Menopause

What is medically induced menopause?

DotS the definition of medically induced menopause may vary. In Medically Induced Menopause: What Is Medically Induced Menopause? the JH’s definition is:

“This type of menopause happens because of surgery or treatment. It’s a direct result of certain medicines, treatments or an operation. For example, chemotherapy or surgery to remove the ovaries”.4

Cause

What causes induced menopause?

In Inherited Cancers Australia and Jean Hailes Join Forces To Ensure Women With Medically Induced Menopause Are Not Left Behind, published 17 October 2024, the author also notes:

“Medically induced menopause can be caused by:

  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy to the pelvic area
  • Surgical removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy)
  • Medical menopause where hormone production is shut down with medicine, such as Lupron or Zoladex”.5

Menopause Symptoms

What are menopause symptoms related to induced menopause?

In Inherited Cancers Australia and Jean Hailes Join Forces To Ensure Women With Medically Induced Menopause Are Not Left Behind the author explains:


“Common symptoms include hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, and mood changes. Women may also face increased long-term health risks, such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease”.6

Challenging

What can be particularly challenging about medically induced menopause symptoms?

In Medically Induced Menopause: What To Expect With Medically Induced Menopause? Is Medically Induced Menopause Worse Than Natural Menopause? the JH elaborate on:

“Medically induced menopause can be worse than natural menopause for different reasons.

Symptoms can come on suddenly.

This can make the experience more intense and feel like more of a shock.

Some symptoms can be more severe.

After ovary removal, the sudden drop in oestrogen can make some symptoms more intense. This includes:

  • Reduced sex drive (libido)
  • Severe sleep problems

Women who experience menopause due to breast cancer treatment can have more severe symptoms. For example:

  • Dry vagina
  • Painful sex
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs).

They may also be more likely to experience depression and anxiety.

Emotional distress

Medically induced menopause can be distressing, especially if you’re coming to terms with an unexpected loss of fertility, or dealing with a diagnosis of cancer”.7

Fears and Concerns

For women with induced menopause, what may be some fears and concern?

In Premature Menopause: How Premature Menopause Affects Health the Menopause Society explain:

“For women with induced menopause, especially when it results from treatment for a serious illness, a number of other fears and concerns may compound the challenges of premature menopause. These include:

  • Pain and discomfort related to the disease or treatment
  • Anxiety over additional treatments
  • A sense of loss of control related to illness, treatments, hospitalizations, and adverse events
  • Confusion over lack of information or a feeling of information overload
  • Frustration over a lack of support
  • Reduced self-esteem because of changes from surgery
  • Embarrassment related to hair or skin changes caused by chemotherapy or radiation
  • Feelings of resentment or guilt
  • Apprehension about relationships, including sexual activity and intimacy
  • A feeling of uncertainty or hopelessness
  • Fear of not being cured or of death
  • Fear of the disease coming back (recurrence)”.8

Health Care Provider

What if I am considering treatment or surgery that may bring on menopause?

In Medically Induced Menopause: What To Ask Your Doctor the JH include:

“If you’re considering a medical treatment or surgery that could bring on menopause, ask your doctor what you can expect”.9

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Induced Menopause?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Induced Menopause?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Premature Menopause: Induced Menopause. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/premature-menopause Accessed: 27 April 2026
  2. Medically Induced Menopause: Is Medically Induced Menopause the Same As Surgical Menopause? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/medically-induced-menopause/ Accessed: 27 April 2026
  3. Premature Menopause: Induced Menopause. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/premature-menopause Accessed: 27 April 2026
  4. Medically Induced Menopause: What Is Medically Induced Menopause? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/medically-induced-menopause/ Accessed: 27 April 2026
  5. Inherited Cancers Australia and Jean Hailes Join Forces To Ensure Women With Medically Induced Menopause Are Not Left Behind. 17 October 2024. Inherited Cancers Australia and Jean Hailes For Women’s Health  https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2024/10/inherited-cancers-australia-and-jean-hailes-join-forces-to-ensure-women-with-medically-induced-menopause-are-not-left-behind/72003/ Accessed: 27 April 2026
  6. Inherited Cancers Australia and Jean Hailes Join Forces To Ensure Women With Medically Induced Menopause Are Not Left Behind. 17 October 2024. Inherited Cancers Australia and Jean Hailes For Women’s Health  https://newshub.medianet.com.au/2024/10/inherited-cancers-australia-and-jean-hailes-join-forces-to-ensure-women-with-medically-induced-menopause-are-not-left-behind/72003/ Accessed: 27 April 2026
  7. Medically Induced Menopause: What To Expect With Medically Induced Menopause? Is Medically Induced Menopause Worse Than Natural Menopause? Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/medically-induced-menopause/ Accessed: 27 April 2026
  8. Premature Menopause: Induced Menopause. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-topics/premature-menopause Accessed: 27 April 2026
  9. Medically Induced Menopause: What To Ask Your Doctor. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/medically-induced-menopause/ Accessed: 27 April 2026
Topic Last Updated: 27 April 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 27 April 2026

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